An IP law firm helps when the thing making your business valuable is also the thing someone else wants to use.
Your name. Your software. Your designs. Your content. Your confidential know-how. The brand people recognise when they see it online, on packaging or above a door.
IP problems usually turn up at the worst moment. A competitor launches something that looks a little too familiar. A developer says they still own the code. An investor asks who owns the IP. Or a letter of claim (often called a cease and desist letter) lands just as you are trying to get a deal over the line.
Asenda Law advises UK businesses on trade marks, copyright, licensing, confidential information, IP disputes and commercial contracts that protect those rights. You work directly with an experienced partner who will explain where you stand, what your options are and what the next move should look like.
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Most issues start with something practical. A business pays for a website and later finds out it does not own all the content. A software company brings in a contractor and the contract says nothing useful about the code. A food brand spots a name that looks too close to theirs. A former supplier keeps using brand assets after the relationship ends.
These issues can affect sales, reputation, investment, commercial deals and your ability to negotiate from a strong position.
As intellectual property solicitors, we help businesses protect what they have built, fix gaps in ownership and deal with disputes before they become harder to control.
An IP law firm advises on intellectual property rights and related agreements, including trade marks, copyright, licensing, confidential information, brand protection and IP disputes. It helps businesses protect what they own, enforce their rights and respond to claims from others.
Yes, it is still worth taking advice. A registered trade mark gives clearer protection, but the law of passing off can protect the goodwill in an unregistered brand, and copyright, design rights and confidential information may also give you options. The right route depends on the facts and the evidence.
It depends on the discussions and/or written contract between the parties. Every case is fact specific – but you should be aware that paying for work does not always mean you formally own all the rights in it. If ownership has not been transferred properly, you may need a written assignment or updated agreement.
Save evidence first. Take screenshots, record dates, keep URLs and avoid contacting the other side before taking advice. A rushed message can weaken your position or make settlement harder.
Yes. Many IP disputes are resolved through letters, negotiation, undertakings, settlement agreements or coexistence terms. Court action is sometimes needed, but it should not be the default starting point.
Take advice when an IP issue could affect your ability to trade, grow, raise investment, sell the business or protect your position in the market.
That includes situations where:
The advice should reflect what the business needs to achieve. That might mean stopping unauthorised use, protecting a launch, fixing ownership, responding to a claim or resolving an issue before it becomes a bigger dispute.
Your brand is how customers find you, remember you and recommend you. That might be a name, logo, slogan, product line, packaging style or something customers associate with your business.
When another business gets too close to your brand, the response needs careful handling. A similar name does not always amount to infringement, and because, generally speaking, copyright protects the expression of an idea rather than the idea itself, a copied idea does not automatically give you a claim. If customers may think there is a connection, or another business is trading on the goodwill and reputation you have built, take advice before firing off an angry email.
Be careful with threats too: under English law, an unjustified threat of trade mark infringement proceedings can give the other side its own claim against you (although, again, this is circumstance dependent), so the first letter needs to be right.
We advise on:
Some brand disputes need a firm letter. Some need negotiation. Some need formal action. The strongest legal argument is not always the best commercial option.
Copyright covers more business assets than people realise, including website copy, photography, designs, software code, training materials, technical documents, videos, pitch decks, marketing content, product descriptions, music, artwork and reports.
The issue is often ownership. You paid for it, so you assume you own it. However, paying for work does not always mean your business owns the copyright.
If a freelancer, agency, consultant or software developer created the work, the written contract (or, if there is no written contract, the underlying discussions) matter. If there is no contract, or the wording is weak, you can run into problems when you try to sell, reuse, edit, license or stop someone else using the work.
We help businesses work out what they own, what rights they have and what needs fixing. Sometimes that means a new written assignment. Sometimes it means tightening future contracts. Sometimes it means dealing with copying or misuse.
Clear ownership wording saves a lot of awkward conversations later.
A lot of IP problems are contract problems wearing a different hat.
The contract does not say who owns the work. The licence is too wide. The confidentiality clause is weak. The supplier keeps using your brand after the relationship ends. A developer reuses code in another project. A distributor registers something that should never have been theirs.
We draft, review and negotiate IP clauses in commercial contracts, including agreements involving software, creative work, licensing, confidential information, brand use, product development, consultancy and commercial partnerships.
The wording needs to answer the practical questions:
If those points are not clear, the dispute usually starts later, when there is more money on the table.
Not all valuable IP is registered. Some of the most important assets in a business are the things you do not want everyone else to know.
That could include pricing models, customer lists, product plans, formulas, technical processes, supplier terms, source code, investor materials or internal documents.
Businesses need to share information with suppliers, investors, manufacturers, agencies, consultants and commercial partners. The paperwork needs to match the risk.
We advise on confidentiality agreements, contract restrictions, misuse of confidential information (known in law as breach of confidence) and practical ways to protect commercial know-how.
IP issues often appear during a deal. A buyer asks who owns the software. An investor asks whether the brand is protected. A partner wants proof that the business controls the content, designs or technology it relies on.
That is a bad time to discover the contractor agreement is missing or the ownership wording does not do what you thought it did.
We support businesses with IP due diligence, contract reviews and deal preparation. Our corporate and commercial lawyers work alongside our IP lawyers where the issue sits within an investment, sale, acquisition, restructure or commercial arrangement.
IP disputes move quickly. One copied product listing becomes ten. One confusingly similar brand starts appearing in search results. One awkward letter turns into a deadline. One former partner keeps using assets they were meant to stop using.
If you are enforcing your rights, the first step is evidence. Screenshots. URLs. Dates. Copies of listings. Customer confusion. Contracts. Registrations. Trading history.
If you are defending a claim, resist the urge to send a long reply straight away. First work out whether the allegation is valid, whether the other side owns the rights they rely on and what response best protects your position.
Where the issue involves unauthorised brand use, copied names, similar logos or a cease and desist letter, our trade mark infringement lawyer advice can help you understand the strength of your position before you act.
Not every IP dispute needs court action. Many need a clear letter, a commercial settlement or agreed boundaries that let everyone move on. Some need stronger action. If that is the case, we will tell you.
You do not need ten pages of legal theory. You need someone to look at the issue, explain the risk and tell you what the sensible next move is.
At Asenda Law, you work directly with an experienced partner. No layers. No vague advice. No hiding behind “it depends” when what you need is a view.
We advise businesses across technology, software, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, creative industries and professional services. We are recognised by The Legal 500 and work with clients who need clear advice on protecting, using and enforcing their intellectual property.
If your business depends on its brand, content, software, designs, ideas or confidential information, protect it properly.
And if someone else is using it, challenging it or claiming you have crossed a line, take advice before the next move makes the problem harder to fix.
Speak to an Asenda Law intellectual property solicitor.
Reach out to us from our contact form and we will get back to you shortly.
Thanks for your enquiry!
We're looking into it and if a response is required we'll get back to you shortly.
We've also sent you a confirmation email. Please also check your spam folder.
Something went wrong submitting your enquiry,
it’s probably just a temporary problem so you should try again in a few minutes.
If you find that the form just won’t work you could email us directly at .
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With a reputation as one of the UK’s leading intellectual property lawyers (World Trademark Review 1000), Ben has extensive experience in IP strategy, management, and enforcement. His career spans work with listed companies, Premier League clubs, international cinema chains, and innovative tech firms.
Known for his ability to break down complex legal matters, Ben advises clients on their IP and commercial strategies, providing a clear understanding of risks, outcomes, and opportunities. He has also led high-stakes negotiations and lectured internationally on IP and technology law, underscoring his commitment to knowledge-sharing in the industry.
Tom’s legal practice focuses on commercial and intellectual property matters, making him a trusted advisor for creative businesses across the UK. He has a particular focus on IP enforcement and litigation in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the UK IPO, and the High Court. He is listed as a Recommended Individual by the World Trademark Review 1000 and is described as “excelling in managing contentious proceedings across various forums, achieving top results at the UKIPO, IPEC and High Court”. Tom represents clients from sectors as varied as AI companies, luxury goods houses, international cosmetics brands, and multi-national restaurant chains.
Before co-founding Asenda Law, Tom worked in private practice at one of London’s top IP boutiques and served as in-house IP Counsel for the EMEA region at a US-listed company.
Mark’s practice covers a broad spectrum of IP and IT law, advising clients ranging from start-ups to listed companies in industries like finance, fashion, and SaaS. He has represented clients in design, trademark, and domain disputes before the UK and EU Intellectual Property Offices, as well as in the High Court and other dispute resolution forums.
Mark’s extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters means he’s well-equipped to guide clients in protecting and commercialising their IP assets with confidence.
Lindsey manages an extensive trademark portfolio for clients across the UK, Europe, and globally, ensuring compliance and protection across jurisdictions.
A former forensic accountant, Lindsey brings analytical precision to her role, overseeing IP applications, renewals, and office actions. Her knowledge of both IP and finance makes her indispensable in managing our clients’ ongoing trademark needs and addressing complex administrative matters with clarity.
With a robust background in commercial law, Helen transitioned to IP in 2015, quickly becoming an invaluable part of Asenda Law’s team.
She manages client care, accounts, finance, and HR, overseeing the daily operations that ensure our firm runs smoothly. Helen’s meticulous approach and years of experience make her a trusted point of contact for both clients and colleagues.
